Surrey County Council is proposing a Council Tax rise of 2.99%. It is said that the extra is for more primary school places. However elsewhere on the internet it is claimed that primary school places are not funded out of the Council Tax. What is going on? If you know more about this please contact us.
Following on from the work last year to renew the gas mains in Wych Hill and Hook
Heath Avenue, the next phase of the work is scheduled to commence in May 2012. The
areas affected will be Hook Heath Road from the junction with Cedar Road to the
junction with Sun Hill, and all the roads to the south and east of this line.
The aim is to replace the old iron 4 inch mains with new plastic ones, and to replace
the smaller bore pipes serving individual houses. The only exceptions will be those
recently built houses that have a plastic gas pipe rather than metal one at the point
of entry into the house.
Andrew Seaman has been appointed as the independent inspector to
examine the soundness of the Woking Borough Council's Local Development
Framework Core Strategy. The lengthy document, together with supporting
documentation, including submissions by
HHRA and residents,
was filed with the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government shortly
before Christmas.
A pre-hearing procedural meeting will be held at the WBC's Council Chamber on Thursday
9 February at 2pm with the full hearings scheduled to commence on Tuesday 20 March at
the same venue at 10.00am
Plans to erect a block of twelve flats in place of Kineton, a locally listed building
in Holly Bank Road, have been rejected by Woking Borough Council's planning committee.
Councillors voted unanimously to reject the plan, which had been recommended for
approval by WBC's planning department.
Local resident and HHRA member, Terry Oakley, addressed the meeting as did local
Councillor for St John's and Hook Heath, Graham Cundy, who made an impassioned plea
for the approval recommendation to be overturned.
The proposal was rejected on the grounds that the block of flats was not a suitable
replacement for a locally listed building, that it failed to reflect the special
character of the area, the mass and bulk of the structure would be inappropriate and
it would create an undesirable precedent for future development.
HHRA chairman Jean Dare declared: "The committee's decision is important for the
future of Hook Heath as an Urban Area of Special Residential Character. It also
demonstrates the value of HHRA in maintaining a watchful eye on issues that could
have an unwelcome impact on this area. My thanks to local residents for the support
they gave to the HHRA in opposing this plan: WBC received 156 letters of objection."
The recommendation by the WBC planning department to refuse permission to increase the
number of floodlit courts was upheld by the planning committee on the basis of impact on
the neighbourhood and detrimental impact on neighbouring properties, particularly Columbyne
House and Ardennes. Another important factor was a statement by the committee when approving
the previous application for additional floodlighting to the effect that any future application
of this kind would not be viewed favourably.
Local resident and HHRA member, Kevin Farquharson, spoke against the plan, as did Cllr Graham
Cundy. The committee voted to refuse the application by a substantial majority.
The committee noted that the applicant had not presented any evidence of need for additional
lighting, nor in support of the claimed low impact on neighbouring properties.
HHRA Chairman, Jean Dare would like to thank all those residents who wrote letters of objection
and particularly commends the small group who took the initiative in commissioning a
professional assessment of the proposed lighting scheme and its impact on neighbours.
HHRA needs volunteers to deliver the annual Newsletter and other occasional Association letters in Fernhill Park, Fernhill Close and Hook Hill Park. If you would like to help please contact Jean Dare via email at
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Saturday 4th Feb 10am - 4pm Choral Workshop St Andrew's Church, Goldsworth Park GU21 3LG
Thursday 9th Feb 2pm -
Core Strategy 'pre-hearing' in WBC's Council Chamber.
(See news item on this page)
Thursday 16th February
9am - 2.30pm Farmers' Market
Mercia Walk
Thursday 15th March 9am - 2.30pm Mercia Walk
Farmers' Market
Tuesday 20th March 10am Core Strategy meeting in WBC'S Council Chamber
See news item on this page
Saturday 31 March 9am - 2.30pm Mercia Walk
Farmers' Market
Thursday 19th April 9am - 2.30pm Mercia Walk
Farmers' Market
Thursday 17th May 9am - 2.30pm Mercia Walk
Farmers' Market
Saturday 2nd - Tue 5th June Queen's Diamond Jubilee Celebrations
Tuesday 5th June Special Bank Holiday to celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee
Thursday 21 June 9am - 2.30pm Mercia Walk
Farmers' Market
Saturday 30 June 9am - 2.30pm Mercia Walk
Farmers' Market
Saturday 7th Juy Woking's'party in the park'.A family event in Woking Park
Thursday 19th July 9am - 2.30pm Mercia Walk
Farmers' Market
Friday 27th July Olympics Opening Ceremony
Sunday 12th August Olympics Closing Ceremony
Some day, ?? ???? x.xxpm
There must be many more activities taking place that would be of
interest to Hook Heath Residents.
If you know of more items for this list please let us know.